MANU JERSEY RETIREMENT CEREMONY 28-3-2019

[G R E Y]

Won't be a dry eye in the arena, but a fitting tribute and celebration:

Read on Twitter

SPURS TO RETIRE MANU GINOBILI’S NO. 20
Four-Time NBA Champion’s Jersey Retirement Set For March 28

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they will retire Manu Ginobili’s No. 20 jersey on Thursday, March 28 when the Silver and Black host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. CDT. A special postgame ceremony honoring Ginobili will take place on the AT&T Center floor and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Southwest and streamed live on FOX Sports GO.

Ginobili will become the ninth player in Spurs franchise history to have his number raised to the rafters, joining Bruce Bowen (12), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), Avery Johnson (6), Johnny Moore (00), David Robinson (50) and James Silas (13).

In 16 seasons with the Spurs, Ginobili captured four NBA championships while posting a career winning percentage of .721 (762-295), which is the best winning percentage in NBA history among players who have appeared in at least 1,000 games....

Ginobili and LeBron James are the only two players in NBA postseason history with at least 3,000 points and 300 three-pointers in the playoffs. Ginobili appeared in 218 career playoff games, averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.34 steals in 27.9 minutes. One of 10 players ever to appear in over 200 playoff games, he came off the bench 165 times and is the all-time leader in NBA postseason history as a reserve in points (2,014), assists (576), rebounds (635), steals (205), field goals made (630), three-pointers made (226) and free throws made (528). Ginobili and Tony Parker combined to record 132 playoff wins together, which are the most victories by any teammates in postseason history.

After signing with the Spurs in the summer of 2002, Ginobili became one of just seven players in NBA history to spend his entire career with one team while playing at least 16 seasons, along with Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, John Havlicek, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki and John Stockton. He is the first South American and just the second player drafted in the second round or later to appear in at least 1,000 games with one team.

Ginobili is one of only two players in history, along with Bill Bradley, to win a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal.

A limited number of multi-game ticket plans featuring the March 28 game are available by calling 210-444-5050. Single game tickets can be purchased through Spurs.com or Ticketmaster.com. More information on Ginobili’s jersey retirement will be announced at a later date.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/manu-retirement

Imagine getting to be there!

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[-Sammy-]

This is about as can't-miss as can't-miss gets.

The fun question for us to play with is: who would've had the better career between Gino and Gervin if Gino had played somewhere else and been treated like a centerpiece?

And which is your SG pick for the Spurs all-time top-five?

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

As we near Manu's special day, a recent informal interview that lends some new insights (best for those who speak Spanish, and the rest of us can just press the subtitles/cc button for a translation ):

At one point, Manu talks about how fortunate he was to land with the Spurs and in doing so he mentions something that I don’t know if I’d ever heard him articulate before. In talking about Gregg Popovich he says:

“I had the good luck of landing in an ideal spot, a coach who saw a lot of himself in my way of playing. He always said he saw basketball the way I did, felt it like how I did and all that...It’s all about passion, intensity, the obsession...We got along because of that.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Manu sheds even more light on his infamous showdown with a bat at the AT&T center and how certain “ghostly American entities” tried to warn him that by letting the bat go, he may have inadvertently brought on the extinction of humanity (seriously).

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2019/3/9/18257545/manu-ginobili-life-post-nba-gregg-popovich-price-paid-bat-antics

Watch on YouTube

Highlights:

Around 5:35 - On the luck of an ideal landing spot with the Spurs and how Pop saw a lot of himself in Manu's way of playing and in his passion for the game

Around 10:30 - Jordan is GOAT; Kobe one in a million; on meeting Jordan

Around 11:35 - on the bat catching incident and the rabies shots that followed

Around 16:00 - Magic trick #1

Around 23:20 - on having more failures than successes, and learning from it

Around 25:00 - Magic trick #2 (related to point above)

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Spurs release more details for Manu Ginobili's jersey retirement ceremony

The club also announced that fans will receive a commemorative Manu Ginobili hat and Manu Ginobili Fanbangos courtesy of H-E-B. Fans will also have the opportunity to take photos with a replica banner of Ginobili's retired No. 20 jersey.

The Spurs are set to warm up before the game in shirts honoring Ginobili. Argentina native and Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Michelle Leclerq is scheduled to sing the national anthem of Argentina. The U.S. national anthem will be sung by Austin-based husband-and-wife country music duo Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison.

A limited number of tickets remain for the game. Suites are also available for parties of up to 21. For more information, call 210-444-5661.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-release-more-details-for-Manu-Ginobili-s-13697901.php

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Spurs will host a Manu Ginobili auction to coincide with jersey retirement event

Spurs fans have a "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to own a piece of Manu Ginobili's basketball career.

Along with hosting the hot ticket jersey retirement ceremony on March 28, the Spurs and and its nonprofit charity Silver and Black Give Back have set up a Manu Ginobili auction with an array of autographed collector's items up for grabs.

From March 25 at 10 a.m. to March 31 at 10 p.m., Ginobili fans will be able to bid on items including Christmas Edition Manu Ginobili shoes and autographed memorabilia like a No. 20 jersey from his final season, an Argentina replica jersey, a basketball from the Spurs' 2013-2014 season and a photo of him from the 2004 Olympics.

Fans who have a ticket to the March 28 retirement event will be able to see the items on display at the AT&T Center.

When fans are ready to bid, they can either text "Manu" to 52182 or submit a bid online at sbgb.org. Updates will be available via text and also on the website.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-will-host-a-Manu-Ginobili-auction-to-13703845.php#photo-17100011

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Hnnnngh it's starting to feel all to real:

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Tony Parker set to re-join Spurs -- for a plane flight

Late Tuesday night, after his Charlotte Hornets finish their third-to-last home game of the regular season, Tony Parker will do something he has done hundreds of times before in his 18-year career.

He will hop on the Spurs' team plane and head to San Antonio.

Parker is expected to be among the scheduled speakers at Manu Ginobili's jersey retirement ceremony Thursday night at the AT&T Center.

"It's going to be very nostalgic," Parker said. "It will put everything in perspective. You'll start realizing everything we accomplished in this league. It will be emotional."

Ginobili's No. 20 is slated to rise to the AT&T Center rafters in a ceremony following Thursday's game against Cleveland. Among the other former players expected to take part are Tim Duncan and fellow Argentine Fabricio Oberto.

Sean Elliott has been tabbed to emcee the ceremony, as he did for Duncan's retirement shindig in December 2016. Coach Gregg Popovich will also speak.

The scheduling worked out well for Parker to participate. He will fly with the Spurs to San Antonio, then catch up with the Hornets before they play again Friday against the Lakers in Los Angeles....

For now, Parker said he is excited to participate in Ginobili's big night Thursday. He says he has spent the past few days polishing up his speech.

"I'm ready," Parker said. "It's going to be an honor to speak. I expect it will be a great night.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Tony-Parker-set-to-re-join-Spurs-for-a-plane-13717847.php

[G R E Y]

Some additional details about the portrait of Manu created to honour him. The more we know about Manu's ceremony the more it looks to be resonant, inclusive, and finely put together, full of personal touches. Just like Manu:

Read on Twitter

"Manu" by Vincent Valdez

Print Price: $2,500

The San Antonio Spurs and renowned San Antonio native Vincent Valdez have teamed up to design a limited-edition archival digital print in conjunction with Manu Ginobili’s jersey retirement on Thursday, March 28. Each of the 120 limited-edition prints costs $2,500 and will be signed by Ginobili and Valdez and will benefit San Antonio’s youth through Silver & Black Give Back (SBGB).

This once-in-a-lifetime sale, which pairs two South Texan legends, is in celebration of Ginobili’s contributions both on and off the court. Valdez’s original oil on paper uses his classic contemporary style mixed with contour drawing, a technique used to capture the expressive movement and form of the human figure to create a whirlwind of motion by countering the calmness of the portrait.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/manu-print


PHOTOS & DETAILS









"Manu"
Artist: Vincent Valdez
#VincentValdez77
40 X 28.25-inch
Limited Edition of 120
Signed by Ginobili and Valdez
Numbered and validated by a Certificate of Authenticity
Unframed

https://www.nba.com/spurs/manu-print

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter